Red Sox Minor League Notebook: Second Rounder Sam Travis Powers Up

By

Craig Forde

July 2, 2014

John Corneau/Lowell Spinners

With the initial excitement of draft day and his first few games as a professional behind him, Red Sox 2014 second round pick Sam Travis is beginning to show signs of what made him one of the more feared hitters at the collegiate level.

Starting his career with the Lowell Spinners, the organization is hopeful that the former Indiana University standout can bolster their first base depth, something they let Travis know of prior to drafting him this past June.

“I knew going in that this could be the team,” said Travis. “They showed a lot of interest. I kind of went in with the approach that someone was going to give me a chance. I couldn’t be happier to be in a great organization here with the Red Sox.”

Advertisement

After getting selected with the 67th overall pick, Travis reported to duty in Lowell where he made his debut on June 18th.

He picked up a hit in his second game, but things were a little slow out of the gate for the six-foot, 190-pound slugger as he hit .154 over his first six games.
“I hadn’t seen pitching in a few weeks,” Travis said. “I’m starting to get back into the swing of things here and getting used to swinging the wood.”
Using a wood bat is something Travis is used to after having done so with Yarmouth-Dennis in the Cape League two summers ago when he hit .339 and slugged four homers following his freshman season with the Hoosiers.
That bat is coming around now for the Spinners as he has hit safely in five straight games.
In that stretch, Travis is hitting .455 and has popped the first two long balls of his career, collecting six RBIs and seven runs while only striking out twice in 23 plate appearances.
It is clear that the early jitters of making the jump to the professional level are no longer, but Travis is still taking things in stride, seemingly unaware of the magnitude of what his career now it.
“It still hasn’t really sunk in,” said Travis. “I’m still a guy going out there having fun because I love the game. I look forward to the future.”
For Travis, the future has begun.Stats Amazing
Mookie Betts – The uber-prospect reached base in 238 of the 276 minor league games he played in prior to reaching the big leagues. That’s 86 percent of games over four seasons. Betts reached in all 23 games played with Pawtucket before Boston called him up on Saturday.Squeezing the system
Pawtucket (AAA) – Anthony Ranaudo has been sensational over his last five starts, going 4-0 with a 0.85 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts. Since joining Pawtucket last season Ranaudo is 12-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 23 appearances.
Portland (AA) – Henry Owens and Sean Coyle will represent the Red Sox organization at the MLB All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 13 in Minneapolis. Coyle, who is hitting .361 and is 12-for-12 on stolen base attempts, replaces Mookie Betts on the US roster.
Salem (A+) – Matty Johnson’s 24 stolen bases are third most in the Red Sox organization. The speedy outfielder had a career high of 19 swipes prior to this season.
Greenville (A) – Catcher Carlos Coste has hit safely in seven of the nine games he’s played in since joining the club at the end of May. He has 11 hits, all singles.
Lowell (Short Season A) – The team had 13 home runs in the month of June, just two shy of their season total from a year ago. Jordan Betts, the Sox 18th round draft choice this past June, leads the charge with three.
Dominican (Rookie) – Rafael Devers continues to show his value leading the Dominican Sox in batting (.347), home runs (3), and RBIs (21). He has played in all 27 of the team’s games thus far and has reached base in all but one.
Gulf Coast (Rookie) – Dedgar Jimenez has picked up a win in all three of his appearances. The 18-year-old lefty pitched five scoreless innings in each of his last two outings, both starts, allowing a combined five hits and three walks.